Mileage was as soon as once more the concentrate on the penultimate day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Components 1 groups eager to study as a lot as they will about their respective new machines earlier than the season will get below means on the identical venue subsequent weekend.
Sergio Perez was the most efficient by way of laps accomplished, whereas Carlos Sainz was the quickest. And whereas it’s unwise to learn an excessive amount of into something at testing, given the number of progammes in play throughout the sphere, there are some things we are able to study after a second day of observe motion on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit…
READ MORE: Sainz units tempo on Day 2 of pre-season testing as he improves on Leclerc’s earlier benchmark
Purple Bull stay the workforce to beat
The chatter on Thursday morning within the Bahraini paddock was centred round Purple Bull – and simply how good the RB20 seems to be. One workforce insider described the workforce’s tempo as “scary”, so impressed have been they by what Max Verstappen delivered on the opening day.
F1 pre-season testing 2024: Day 2 Highlights
And whereas issues acquired somewhat bumpier on day two, with Sergio Perez experiencing a brake hearth and attainable energy concern, the Mexican banked greater than a century of laps and reported that the machine is “undoubtedly a step ahead within the combat path.”
Perez centered on set-up work within the afternoon, as he seems to be to weave in additional consistency to his performances on race day this season, with the RB20 trying silky clean in a number of facets – from on rails by way of the quick stuff, to very compliant on the kerbs and silky clean by way of the corners.
Perez, final yr’s runner up, tried his best to minimize the actual fact his workforce look good, so early in testing – however from every thing he and his workforce mate Verstappen have delivered to date, it’s appears the Adrian Newey-led design workforce at Milton Keynes have delivered one other corker of a automotive.
READ MORE: Perez says area ‘so much nearer than individuals suppose’ as he reveals shock at Purple Bull’s RB20 idea
Combined day for Ferrari – however automotive seems to be like an honest step ahead
It’s not price studying a lot into Sainz’s pace-setting time, given we don’t know how a lot gasoline he was working or what configuration the automotive was in – nevertheless, it’s understood the info the automotive is delivering on observe is correlating effectively with what the wind tunnel and CFD advised over the winter.
Final yr, the Scuderia excelled over one lap, however struggled to maintain their tyres alive on race day. So, engaged on lowering degradation has been a key a part of their pre-season testing programme – and encouragingly for his or her loyal Tifosi fanbase, sources say the workforce’s information suggests they’ve made first rate positive aspects.
It wasn’t all clean crusing for Ferrari on day two, although, as Leclerc hit a drain cowl that induced a pink flag and required a change of ground. Because of this, Leclerc was given a bit of additional observe time within the afternoon, earlier than handing the automotive over to Sainz, who set about attempting to make up for misplaced time.
Having centered on working the more durable compounds on day one, Sainz gave the C4 – the second softest in Pirelli’s vary – a run out and promptly set the quickest time of the day – turning into the primary driver into the 1m 29s within the course of.
READ MORE: Leclerc and Sainz give their verdicts on the place Ferrari stand relative to Purple Bull
New Mercedes seems to be extra constant and fewer lairy
Lewis Hamilton acquired his first style of the 2024-spec Mercedes on day two – and after spending the morning clocking off a sequence of aero runs for information gathering, he turned his consideration to race simulations and single-lap analysis within the afternoon.
The seven-time world champion reckons the workforce have “clearly made an enchancment” with this yr’s automotive, the Briton including it’s “a lot nicer to drive”.
That echoed workforce mate George Russell’s feedback from earlier within the day, the Briton saying Mercedes appear to have traded a automotive that “felt prefer it was going to chew us each single nook” for one that permits him to “assault the medium and high-speed corners with out the rear stepping out”.
It’s solely been two days, however the temper is considerably completely different at Mercedes in comparison with 12 months in the past. This time final yr, they knew instantly that the brand new automotive wasn’t a match for its rivals. This time, there’s actual optimism – although they nonetheless consider there may be nonetheless some approach to go earlier than they’re in a spot to take the combat to Purple Bull.
READ MORE: New Mercedes ‘feels nicer to drive’ than earlier automotive as Russell assesses first day of testing
RB cautious regardless of spectacular early tempo
Daniel Ricciardo continued RB’s encouraging begin to their new period with a second successive top-five time in pre-season testing.
Given the workforce’s large push on improvement on the finish of final season (AlphaTauri introduced an upgraded ground to the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi), it’s believed there’s an acceptance internally that they might pay the value by having a gradual begin to this season.
That may nonetheless transpire at subsequent weekend’s season opener in Bahrain, nevertheless, a collective 244 laps over two days is a strong achievement, with each Ricciardo and workforce mate Yuki Tsunoda happy with the best way the check has developed.
And whereas a late push on improvement might hurt them early doorways, there’s understood to be stuff within the pipeline that ought to be delivered this summer season and will permit them to kick on and obtain their purpose of preventing in direction of the entrance of the midfield within the second-half of the marketing campaign.
WATCH: What we discovered on the primary day of pre-season testing in Bahrain